Gelatin capsule.



Patented May 29, I900.

F. H. METCALF.

GELAT-IN CAPSULE. (Applica tion filed Dec. 2, 1399.

(No Model.)

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5L4 JV M THE NORRXS PETERS CO, PNOYO-UTHO. WASHINGTON. n. C

Fries.

ranonmcx 1-1. METCALF, or FRANKLIN, ILLINOiS.

GELATIN CAPSU LE.

S PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,760, dated May 29, 1900.

Application filed December 2, 18991 $erial No.'738;993. (No infidel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I FREDERICK H. CALF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Im provements in Capsules; of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gelatin capsules and gelatin-coated pills and tablets, and has especial reference to capsules, increasing their solubility when used in connection with compounds which they incase.

The object of the invention is to provide a capsule and coating for pills which will be more soluble and susceptible to digestion when taken into the stomach than the ordinary capsule or gelatin-coated pill or tablet, as is now marketed.

The invention consists of mixing in the gelatin composition while it is in a liquid state a' sufficient quantity of pepsin or other drug which will assist the stomach to digest the capsule-shell or coating of pill or tablet.

Many other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a section of the capsule. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the application of the invention to pills. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a capsule, showing another mode of applying my invention. Fig. at is a sectional View of a further modification of a capsule.

In the drawings, 1 represents a capsule provided with a mixture of pepsin In Fig. 2 the invention is applied to a pill, the mode of operation and advantages obtained being substantially the same.

It is a well-known fact that frequently capsules are not easily digestible and under some circumstances tend to deter the quick and active operation of the medicine after it reaches the stomach. It is the purpose of this invention to assist the stomach in reducing the capsule-shell when it incases a compound or the coating of pill or tablet. The proportion of pepsin mixed with the capsule orcoating of pill or tablet when used for this purpose will be such as to not aifect the medicine contained within it, but to cowork with it. A

sufficient quantity is used to quickly and eliec= tually reduce the capsule-shell or coating of pill or tablet immediately after it is taken into the stomach, so as to expose the compound to the quick motion of the system to which and for which it was intended;

I propose to make a capsule especially pre} pared to contain compounds intended to aid digestion. For such purposes a greater quantity of pepsin will be added to the gelatin mixture than would otherwise be added when the capsules are to be used for ordinary purposes. In such cases the pepsin not only as sists the stomach to digest the capsule, but also acts in conjunction with the compound to accomplish its mission.

In the manufacture of gelatin capsules the mixture is first reduced by heat and water to a-liquid form and the composition thoroughly mixed. It is at this stage of the preparation of the composition that I put in a sufficient quantity of pepsin according to the intended purpose of the-capsule. In applying the improvement to pills the same principle is em ployed. The pill is prepared in the usual manner, after which it is rolled in a liquid composition of capsule-gelatin combined with pepsin, as before stated. I do not limit myself to the specific use of pepsin, as any analogous drug which can be mixed in with the composition without destroying or in any way affecting the gelatin can be substituted.

, It will be seen that the invention is extremely simple and of great value where it is of absolute necessity in many cases that the medicine within the capsule should reach the stomach and act immediately. By mixing the pepsin in the composition as above described I have not only produced a novel means of assisting nature, but have provided something which can be produced cheaply and at the same time have not added any thing to the weight of the capsule-shell, nor have I mixed a drug with the gelatin which will in any way destroy any element of the composition.

In many cases the capsule-shell can be used to assist digestion a suflicient quantity of the pepsin having been mixed with the gelatin in its manufacture.

As shown in Fig. 3 the walls of the capsule are made double and a layer of pepsin is interposed, and in Fig. 41- the construction is substantially the same, except that a small opening, 4 is provided in the outer capsule, so as to permit the juices in the stomach to immediately coact with the pepsin between the Walls.

' Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- As an article of man u facture, a gelatin capsule having pepsin incorporated with its 00111' to position, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK H. MEICALF.

\Vitnesses:

OHAs. A. BARNES, LENA C. ENGEL. 

